Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to establish the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of stroke in young people after the COVID-19 era.
Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted, including all young adult patients admitted to the Neurology Department at King Abdullah Medical City (KAMC) who were diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke from January 2021 to December 2022.
Results: A total of 366 ischemic stroke patients were admitted to the hospital during 2021 and 2022. Among them, 59 patients (16%) were classified as young adults and included in the study. The mean age of young adult patients was 41.08 ± 7.65 years. Most patients were male (76.3%, n = 45), and 71.2% (n = 42) were Saudi nationals. The mean NIHSS score at admission was 9.77 ± 7.14, and the mean length of hospital stay was 10.81 ± 14.79 days. The most common types of ischemic stroke was cryptogenic (34 cases, 57.6%). The most prevalent risk factors in the young adult group were overweight (37 cases, 62.7%), followed by hypertension (31 cases, 52.5%) and diabetes mellitus (26 cases, 44%). Regarding acute management among young adults, 20 patients (33.9%) received acute intervention. Overall, 26 patients (44.1%) were discharged without significant neurological deficit.
Conclusion: It was found that 16% of ischemic strokes occurred in young adults, and most of them were men, with stroke of undetermined etiology being the most common subtype, followed by cardiac embolism, large vessel disease, and small vessel disease.

Key words: Young adults, ischemic stroke, incidence, risk factors, outcomes, Makkah, Saudi Arabia